Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-11-09
FALLS TRIBUNE.
desert LANDS"
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 9. 1885,.

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It is a matter for public rejoicing
that the term s'desert iand"-so long
a reproach and libel upon this great
country-can no longer be applied to
this section, by which we mean the
greater portion OF Cascade county,
covered by the order Of the general
land Office published in the TRIBUNE
Saturday. As affecting the future
development of Montana, it is the
most important action yer taken by
the land department of the govern
ment, and the TRIBUNE trusts it is but
the entering wedge that will place the
whole of the territory in the same
category.
The name desert" land is a misno-
mer as applied to the agricultural
portions of Montana and should have
been stricken from our statute books
when the "Great American Desert
disappeared from our maps.
It is in the highest degree compli-
mentary and creditable to the new
county of Cascade that the first order
OF this character affecting the terrific
~ Of Montana embraces a large sec
ton of the country that is wholly
within this county and adjacent to
the town of Great Falls. The order
was issued upon the recommendation
of special agent Gum, who made a
personal inspection OF the prescribed
area, while his report is substantiate,i
by numerous affidayits OF the strong
est character covering the entire area
affected.
The result is just what might have
. been expected from such examination.
Everywhere throughout the region
from which the desert balgbear has
been removed can be seen the finest
crops OF grain und vegetables tina:
ever grew in any sell, both in the val
legs and uplands, produced without
irrigation, and where the piow has
not disturbed the sod, the grasses
grow in l%usurianee, SO that hay can
be cut in season almost anywhere on
the prairie. What atravesty it is that
such lands should be classed as
desert giving to the Spectator the
right to file upon and holsl them tc
the exclusion OF the actual settler!
For the good and sufficient reasons
set forth. the order OF the commits
sioner is an excellent one and it will
receive the hearty approval OF the
people Of Montana. outside OF thoss
who may have schemes of securing
Uncle Sans domain in sections under
the. desert land act.
The orderis. too, a proclamation tc
the world hat this particularly favor.
ed portion OF Montana--the new coun,
ty of Cascades not q sdesert" in
any d and that in all the Rocky
mountain region there is no more-fa-
yored section than this for the actual
settler. II is the best and biggest adj
yertisement northern Montana has
ever had and more than anything else
it will help to people our fertile val
leys and rich bench lands. Whatever
mistakes have been made by the gen
eral land Office in the past. as affect
ing the people Of Montana, this is moi
one Of them. 1t is an order in them
terest Of the settler as against the
Spectator and land-grabber, and as
such is entitled to, and will receives
general approval, and especially from
the citizens Of Cascade county who
are directly affected by II.
~
The general land Office has well
defined regulations regarding desert
lands. These rules we're ampliied
recently and rendered SO explicit as
to preclude any attempts to procure
as desert land, tracts which are capa.
Bile of cultivation by ordinary means
The results Of this prudent course
are seen in the decisiono Of Hon. S. NJ
stockslager, the assistant commits.
sioner Of the general land office, who
on The report Of the special agent